MoonWalk: oh, what a night!

As the last brave walkers make it back home, organisers reflect on a wet but wonderful night …

Mad Hatters waltzed with White Rabbits and Cheshire Cats can-canned with Pink Flamingos this weekend to celebrate a decade of incredible fundraising at The MoonWalk Scotland!

Thousands of women and men wearing decorated bras inspired by this year’s theme ‘Mad Hatter’s Midnight Tea Party’, set off in the cold and wet at midnight on Saturday from Inverleith Park, to power walk (or meander!) through the streets of the capital, raising money and awareness for breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.

Before one step had even been taken by that crazy gang of weird and wonderful wonderland characters over half a million pounds had already been raised – adding to an incredible total of £18 million since the first MoonWalk Scotland in 2006!

Most of the money stays in Scotland, helping to improve the lives of people with cancer.

Legendary Scottish band The Red Hot Chilli Pipers ramped up the party atmosphere in Walk the Walk’s Pink Palace, playing for Walkers before they set off on one of four challenges: New Moon (6.55 miles), Half Moon (13.1 miles), Full Moon (26.2 miles) and Over The Moon (52.4 miles).

With a walking distance for every age and ability, whole families were able to experience a night of fun and a bit of MoonWalk magic! Walkers aged from just ten years old are able to sign up for the New Moon, with this year’s youngest MoonWalker celebrating their own tenth birthday just two days before the event.

Iconic landmarks including Edinburgh Castle and the Melville Monument lit up pink throughout the night to give all the walkers a huge collective hug. A number of specially commissioned bras were also on display at The MoonWalk Scotland, designed by Maggie’s, Young Scot, Paths for All, Essential Edinburgh, City Cabs and Liggy’s Cakes, all uniting with Walk the Walk against breast cancer.

Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk said: “The energy of everyone at this fantastic birthday party was just amazing and the rain was not going to stop a good MoonWalk!

“It was incredible to see Edinburgh lit up pink, in honour of our wonderful Walkers, and I was overwhelmed by the kindness of people on the streets, coming together to provide a constant supply of support, snacks and drinks.

“I found it really moving standing on the finish line of the New Moon, seeing all the faces of young children, who were especially delighted because they had persuaded their parents to take part. What a night!”